Updates from the Holy Land: Seminarian Dave Schalk 12/30/06

Where does a man begin to describe the experiences of Christmas week in Bethlehem? The thought that my words will do justice to the recent activities must be cast aside. We have to remember that I am only one man, with limited time and resources, unable even to hope to describe the sheer immensity of this week. However, for the sake of all those on my HOLYLAND email list, I will write about two events that took place here in the birthplace of the Lord. Keep in mind that it pains me to speak so briefly and I carry within my heart a deep desire to share more when I return to my homeland. (How about that for an introduction?)

If you remember, the first event was mentioned in my last email: we held a Christmas party last Saturday for the kids at the local orphanage, which is run by a number of religious sisters. There are about seventy-five children there, some as permanent residents and some in daycare, and they are all under the age of six. When we first arrived at the orphanage, there was time to play in one of the classrooms full of toddlers. Their favorite activity was sneezing and coughing on us. This wasn’t a bother though; these kids were extremely cute, even with snotty noses. Several of them decided to crawl onto our laps and cuddled up for quick naps.

With this unstructured playtime coming to a close, we were happy to join the rest of the tiny citizens of the orphanage in their recreation area. (A quick note here: this is an attractive, well-designed, modern orphanage. Rid from your minds of the dreary scenes from Oliver Twist. These kids, thankfully, have a decent place to live and learn and play.) With everyone seated around the perimeter of the room, our Christmas program commenced with some of our guys belting out a few Christmas carols. They were of the “Jingle Bell” variety, nothing too spectacular for anyone who has had Music Appreciation 101, but the kids seemed pacified, so I wasn’t going to complain. The program really took off when a group of fifteen tikes countered our attempt at entertainment with a Bolivian Christmas dance. I was impressed! These little munchkins knew how to shake it to a jazzy South American beat! And so back and forth it went: our meek Christmas carols followed by their international midget-jig-like dancing. (FYI: Many of them were dressed in penguin costumes, which added to the effect.) Everyone appeared to be having a good time, that is to say, none of the kids were crying.

Finally, the climax of our party arrived when Santa walked through the door. (It was one of our older, bearded seminarians dressed up in an Arabic Santa suit.) Along with seventy-five wrapped toys, he brought with him a wave of excitement that crashed over the entire room. As he distributed a gift to each child, I could feel the adults in the room losing control of the situation, and the mayhem came to full bloom when one of the religious sisters brought out the cookies and juice. I typically don’t use the word, but “bonkers” is the best way to describe the next twenty minutes. When the sisters shut the party down, the kids went back to their playrooms grinning, and the seminarians went back to the pilgrim house exhausted.

Allow me now to move on to the second event: Christmas morning at the Church of the Nativity. My Christmas morning didn’t really begin until I parted company with my bed around 8:30am. (Why did I arise so late? Our group celebrated Midnight Mass at Bethlehem University the night before, and there was a post-Mass Christmas party hosted by the university faculty. We partied like it was 1999! For a good picture of this shindig, imagine a dozen seminarians, a dozen religious brothers, and a dozen college kids – all doing the electric slide to “Feliz Navidad,” which was played on the acoustic guitar. Now that’s a party!)

In any event, we had Christmas morning free to check out the festivities that were taking place at the Church of the Nativity. My friend Nick and I left for the church around 10am. The place was a zoo! The huge plaza in front of the church was packed with cars and people; the crowded hustle and bustle reminded me of Wal-Mart on the day after Thanksgiving. Outside the church was a huge circle of jubilant Hispanics, dancing to their loud guitar-led Christmas songs that cut through the brisk morning air. Their spirit was contagious and attracted a number of other international pilgrims. The circumference of their circle probably grew to about three hundred people, making a wreck of pedestrian traffic and causing angst for the policemen trying to keep order.

So what was happening inside the church? Pandemonium. Masses in sundry tongues were celebrated in the crypt (which houses the spot where Jesus was born) every half hour. With regard to size, the crypt is comparable a medium-sized bedroom. With polite pushes and saintly shoving, groups of pilgrims were able to sardine themselves into the crypt in order to go to Mass. Four of us from the Mundelein group were fortunately able to make our way into a 10:30am Mass celebrated in English. However, it was difficult to enter into the mystery of Christmas during this speedy celebration of the Eucharist. I felt I needed to take a step back from the craziness of this Christmas scene. Leaving the crypt I spied a somewhat quiet place in a corner of the church that made for a small piece of tranquility. It was there that I slaked my thirst for genuine prayer on Christmas morning.

My reflections have to end here because my time for writing has run out. If you would like to know what we’ve done on a more day-to-day basis, or if you would like to see some pictures of our experiences, check out the “Pilgrimage” link at .

By the way, this is my last email from Bethlehem. On Monday we leave Palestine for a week of touring in Galilee. Then we move into our new digs in Jerusalem.

Let me wish you all a happy and blessed New Year! You are in my prayers. Keep me in yours!

Peace in the Middle East,

dave
12/30/2006

p.s. Go Bucks!

Seekholiness Podcast: Jesus Jams November Homily

In this podcast, we hear Monsignor Lane speak on Truth and Relativism at November's Jesus Jam. Have a Happy Christmas, and check back soon for there is always more to come.

Updates from the Holy Land: Seminarian Dave Schalk 12/22/06

Greetings from Bethlehem, where Christmas began! Ironically enough, it doesn’t feel as if Christmas is just three days away. The weather is mild and I don’t feel the stress that typically accompanies the rigorous holiday season. I feel blessed to be able to walk down the road to the Church of the Nativity whenever I’m free, and it’s great to pray the rosary every night under the Bethlehem sky. Although I do miss friends and family back home, I am enjoying my experience here immensely. Soaking up the sights and sounds of the Holy Land has kept my mind focused on the one who came to us 2000 years ago.

What has the group done since last time? Most significant was our 3-day trip into Galilee. I’m going to run you through all three days, so prepare yourself.

Day One: We cruised out of Bethlehem and up the coast of the Mediterranean to our first destination, Caesarea. The extensive ruins of this ancient city are quite amazing. The entire group stood in awe as we looked up at the enormous Roman aqueduct that still stands there today. Words fail to describe it. Haifa was then our city of choice for lunch, and the hummus there was delicious. After our meal we took the bus to the top of Mount Carmel for some prayer at Stella Maris Basilica (Our Lady, Star of the Sea). Stells Maris is an appropriate name for this church because it’s view of the sea is magnificent. (A note to those who don’t already know: I was born at Mount Carmel Hospital on the west side of Columbus.) That night we ended up in Nazareth, the first of two nights in that medium-sized city. We crashed at a pilgrim house run by the Sisters of Nazareth (an appropriately named community of religious sisters).

Day Two: We ran all over God’s creation. First stop: the church in Cana where Jesus kept the party going. Second stop: the church on Mount Tabor where Jesus was transfigured. Third stop: the church in Naim where Jesus brought a young man back to life. Fourth stop: the ancient ruins of Megiddo where Jesus didn’t do anything. Fifth stop: the Basilica of the Annunciation where Jesus was conceived. Sixth stop: back at the pilgrimage house where my roommate and I enjoyed some wine he picked up at Cana. (A note to those who might one day visit the Holy Land: You do not have to try the wine from Cana. The word “putrid” comes to mind.)

Day Three: The main stop was Jericho, which is advertised as the oldest city in the world. It’s a fascinating place, an oasis in the middle of the desert. (Any oasis in this land is fascinating to me. One can travel through miles and miles of desert without seeing anything but rocks and an occasional camel. Then there appears a town speckled with farms and fountains.) Just outside Jericho towers a huge precipice, the Mount of Temptation. Tradition says that it was upon this mountain that Jesus was tempted by the devil. We took a cable car (which I’m discovering are rather popular in Israel due to the fact that many of the tourist/pilgrim sites are quite lofty) up the mountain in order to visit the Greek monastery there. The monastery sits on the face of a cliff and provides the monks with unparalleled views of the Jordan Valley. Being in that place was powerful, visually and spiritually speaking.

That was basically our trip to Galilee. Much fun was had by all. We are now back in Bethlehem in the midst of classes and Christmas celebrations. Two things stand out on our upcoming calendar. Tomorrow we are throwing a party for the children at the local orphanage, and Sunday we will celebrate Midnight Mass at the University of Bethlehem with one of the bishops of Jerusalem.

I have one final comment about the Mundelein Seminary community that is here in Bethlehem. Early this morning I went to our house chapel for Adoration. At one point during prayer I looked up to find myself with three other seminarians. One was from Venezuela; another from Vietnam; another from Poland; and myself from the U.S. There were four seminarians from four continents, praying together in Palestine. Very cool.

Have a safe and holy Christmas. Much love from the birthplace of the Lord. Until the next update,

dave
12/22/2006

P.S. If you’d like to check it out, the group journal is up at . Look for the “Pilgrimage 2007” link.

Updates from the Holy Land: Seminarian Dave Schalk 12/16/06

Here’s another email from the Holy Land! I should let you know that I write these emails from my room in a Word document early in the morning. When I have some free time during the day, I make my way over to the internet café in Bethlehem. It’s an awesome place. The owner, George, is a Latin Catholic and has taken to the Mundelein seminarians. His perfect English and knowledge of American culture lets him tell jokes. He is hilarious.

Most of the people here in Bethlehem really enjoy having pilgrims/tourists around. It’s true that we boost the economy – which is hurting badly due to the overall civil unrest in this part of the world – but this particular Middle-Eastern culture places a tremendous emphasis on hospitality. It is difficult to walk down the street and not have someone offer you some coffee or tea. They genuinely want to make all visitors feel welcome, and sometimes “welcome” is the only English word people know. There is a friendliness to the people here that reminds me of the people of Guadalajara in Mexico.

The people in Bethlehem are Palestinian, which means there are no Jews here. (They’re laws actually prohibit them from living here. They live on the other side of the wall in Jerusalem and in the Jewish settlements that are scattered throughout the West Bank.) The majority of the population is Muslim; the minority is Christian. But everyone gets along in this town. The University of Bethlehem, a Catholic University, is known for opening its doors to all people and sets the tone for the entire community.

On the days that we do not travel to pilgrimage sites, the seminarians have two classes in the morning and a presenter in the afternoon. The classes right now are the Gospel of Luke and the Spirituality of a Pilgrim. The afternoon presenters are usually locals who come to speak about the various issues that are pertinent to life in the Holy Land. The last three talks have been about Islam.

I’m also spending time catching up with the rest of my class. As many of you know, my grandmother passed away on December 4th. (Please pray for her. Her name is Berneda.) The time I spent with my family in Ohio around the time of her death and funeral delayed my departure one week. I missed four days of classes and a few important pilgrimage sites. This means I spend most of my evenings listening to MP3s of missed classes, reading missed assignments, etc. Today we have the afternoon free, so I am going to visit Shepherds Field. This is where they believed the shepherds were keeping watch on the first Christmas night. All my friends who have already visited tell me it’s an impressive place.

And tomorrow we leave for Galilee for three days. We’ll see Nazareth, Jericho, and many other sites. You’ll probably hear about them in emails to come. Much love from the Holy Land until then. I have to run now. Please keep me and all of the seminarians from Mundelein in your prayers!

dave
12/16/2006

Updates from the Holy Land: Seminarian Dave Schalk 12/14/06

Today was full of inspiring and invigorating experiences; a journal entry such as this can only begin to describe the adventures that took place. After a light breakfast at 6:30am, the group left on the bus for Qumran with our trusty guide, Peter. We rode out of Bethlehem, through Jerusalem, and over to the coast of the Dead Sea. The trip took about an hour and a half and gave us a good look at the desert terrain of the Holy Land. Some of us commented on the challenges this land would offer to anyone who traveled on foot, as well as the difficulties Jesus must have encountered in his trips throughout Galilee, Samaria, and Judea.

When we finally arrived at Qumran, we were led through a small museum that oriented us to the importance of the site. In 1947 a shepherd boy stumbled upon a cave in the region that contained seven ancient scrolls. It is believed that these scrolls were the work of the Essenes, an ascetic Jewish community that existed in Qumran during the time of Jesus. Spectacularly preserved for close to 2000 years, these scrolls gave the modern world a look at a number of ancient texts of the Old Testament. The discovery at Qumran led to archeological endeavors up and down the coast of the Dead Sea that uncovered many more texts, which are now know as the Dead Sea Scrolls. We were there at Qumran to see the mountains that held these treasures and to explore the ruins of the Essene community.

Just down the road a bit was Ein Gedi National Park. This is an oasis in the middle of the desert covered in lush vegetation and beautified by a number of awe-inspiring waterfalls. We had the opportunity to walk through this Eden-like paradise and snap some great pics. It is believed that this place is described in the Song of Songs, and it is here that David spared the life of Saul for the first time (1 Sam 24).

We then jumped back on the bus and headed for Masada. This mind-boggling site was once home to a magnificent place of King Herod. The size and grandeur of the palace is impressive, but what is most amazing is the fact that this complex is situated on top of a mountain plateau 450 meters above the Dead Sea. The group took a cable car up to the ruins of this fortress and learned about its intriguing history. Although it was built by Herod, Masada was made famous by the Jewish rebels who sought refuge there from the Roman army in 70 AD. These 1000 rebels were able to hold out against the Roman forces on that mountain plateau for two and a half years. They were finally defeated when the Romans finished construction of an earthen ramp that enabled them to climb the mountain with battering rams and siege equipment. This dramatic history, coupled with the shear impressiveness of the view from the mountain fortress, helped us appreciate our brief visit to this popular site.

Our final stop for the day was at a beach on the Dead Sea, the lowest body of water on the earth. We had seen the Sea from the road for most of the day, so were glad, at last, to have the chance to take a swim. Because the Dead Sea is so salty, the water actually buoys your body, making it impossible to sink. Everyone was able to float, so we had a blast drifting through the water on our backs. Even though we were careful not to splash too much, some of us got water in the eye and felt the fierce sting of that salty water.

This jam-packed day culminated with Vespers and Mass back at our home in Bethlehem. Everyone agreed that this was one of the best days of the pilgrimage thus far. Looking back over this journal entry, I realize that I have not captured the awe and excitement we experienced at these sites. I recommend you ask one of the seminarians personally about his trip to Qumran, En Gedi, Masada, and the Dead Sea.

Dave Schalk
12/14/2006

Updates from the Holy Land: Seminarian Dave Schalk 12/13/06

Greetings from the Holy Land. I pray this email finds you all well. I have put together an email list made up of some of my family and friends. It is my plan to email everyone on this list occasionally in order to let you know what I’m doing here in Israel/Palestine. If you would like to be removed from this list, let me know. (You won’t hurt my feelings.) And please feel free to forward these emails to anyone whom you think would appreciate them.

Some introductory info: I am in a group made up of thirty-nine Mundelein seminarians who are studying in the Holy Land until February 12. The group is staying at a comfortable religious house in the heart of Bethlehem. We are about a ten-minute walk from the birthplace of Jesus, which is marked by a beautiful, ancient church. Some days we have class here at our home; other days we make trips on a charter bus to the tourist/pilgrim sites that surround us.

Know that you all will be in my prayers during my time here. Please pray for all of us pilgrims! I will now leave you with something I wrote for our community journal (which will eventually be posted with pictures at usml.edu). It’s cheesy, I know, but it gives an idea of what one of our daytrips looks like. Enjoy.

Peace in the Middle East,

Dave
12/13/2006

Seekholiness Podcast: Jesus Jams November 2006

This is a recording of Bob Rice's talk entitled "Truth and Relativism" at the November Jesus Jam. For more info on Bob Rice, check him out online.